Skip over main navigation
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
The Shark Trust
JoinDonate
Menu
  • Who We Are
    • About Us
    • Our Staff
    • Our Trustees
    • Our Patrons
    • Jobs
    • How We Are Funded
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • Our Work
    • Shark Science
    • Saving Species
      • Angel Sharks
      • Sawfish
      • CITES
      • CMS
    • Citizen Science
      • Great Eggcase Hunt
        • The Project
        • Eggcase Hunting
        • Identifying Your Eggcase
        • British Isles & NW Europe
        • How Can You Help?
        • Record Your Eggcase
      • Basking Shark Project
        • The Project
        • About Basking Sharks
        • Basking Shark Threats
        • Basking Shark Conservation
        • How Can You Help?
      • Angling Project
      • Sightings Database
    • Transforming Fisheries
      • Falkland Islands Project
      • No Limits? Campaign
      • Stop Shark Finning Campaign
      • High-Seas Management
      • Sustainable Fisheries Project (UK)
      • Fisheries Advisories
        • English
        • French
        • German
        • Spanish
        • Dutch
        • Greek
    • Working Collaboratively
  • Discover Sharks
    • Shark Biology
      • Shark Evolution
      • Shark Taxonomy
      • Shark Anatomy
      • Shark Senses
      • Male & Female Sharks
      • Shark Reproduction
      • Tonic Immobility
    • Shark Ecology
      • British Sharks
    • Skates & Rays
    • Chimaera
    • Experience Sharks
    • Shark Attacks
    • Shark Threats
    • Shark Conservation
    • Resources
      • Leaflets & Posters
      • Shark ID Guides
      • Skate & Ray ID Guides
    • Pup's Activity Zone
  • Get Involved
    • Join Us
    • Adopt a Shark
    • Donate
    • Campaign
    • Become a Citizen Scientist
    • Fundraise
    • Volunteer
    • Your Business
    • Other Ways to Give
  • News
  • Events
  • Blogs
    • Collective Action
    • Fundraising Blog
    • Pup's Blog
    • Discover Sharks
    • Creature Feature
    • The Blowfish
  • Shop
  • Press
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Male & Female Sharks
  1. Discover Sharks
  2. Shark Biology
  3. Male & Female Sharks

Male & Female Sharks

How do you tell the difference between a male and female shark?

It's much easier than you probably think. Male sharks tend to be smaller than females. But the easiest way to tell them apart is to look for claspers. Males have a pair of claspers, which are used for mating. This is like a pair of extra roll-up fins under their body.


MALE:

Internally males have two muscular sacs (siphon sacs) in their abdominal wall and testes that produce sperm. These also secrete hormones that control the development of male characteristics.

Starry Smoothhound Illustration (Male) © Marc Dando


FEMALE:

Females have a pair of ovaries where eggs are produced. These also secrete hormones that control the development of female characteristics.

Spiny Dogfish Illustration (Female) © Marc Dando


SHARK COURTSHIP

Some sharks (such as Blue Sharks and Spiny Dogfish) spend most of their lives in single sex groups. When they reach sexual maturity they’ll meet with the opposite sex once a year to mate.

Courtship hasn't been observed in many shark species. But for those it has we know that:

  • The males of some species (such as catsharks) twist their body around females before mating.

  • The males of larger species, such as Lemon Sharks and Nurse Sharks will swim parallel to the female. He'll also bite her fin to hold her alongside him during mating.

  • Basking Sharks have been seen following each other nose-to-tail. It's also thought that breaching may be part of a courtship display.

A shark’s courtship can seem aggressive. Female sharks often end up with teeth marks (or ‘love bites’) on their fins or back. But this doesn't hurt them as their skin can be up to 3X thicker than a male’s.


Love Discovering Sharks?

Find out more by exploring our Discover Sharks section, where we cover shark reproduction, anatomy and more.

Shark Reproduction

Published: 3rd November, 2018

Updated: 22nd August, 2019

Author: Hannah Tarrant

Related topics:
  • Shark Biology
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Lemon Shark © Laura Storm

General Donation

You can set up a regular, or one-off, donation in support of all our work. Your gift to sharks will then be allocated where it's needed the most. Every penny helps.

Published: 31st January, 2019

Author:

Location: ,,

Target amount: £0.00

Amount raised: £25,284.11

Donate

Comments: 0

Related topics:

Latest

  • News Digest - January

    News Digest - January

    Check out our selection of top shark stories for the month. Covering the latest news and discoveries from around the world...

  • Stuck indoors & need something to do?

    Stuck indoors & need something to do?

    If you're looking for something to keep you, or little ones, entertained, check out our top 10 resources...

  • Shark Focus Magazine (Issue 65)

    Shark Focus Magazine (Issue 65)

    In this issue we're dispelling some of the common shark myths. Exploring how we can all shift the current negative narrative surrounding sharks, by the way we talk about them.

  • News Digest - December

    News Digest - December

    Check out our selection of top shark stories for the month. Covering the latest news and discoveries from around the world...

Related

  • Shark Evolution

    Shark Evolution

    Most scientists believe that sharks came into existence around 400 million years ago. That's 200 million years before the dinosaurs! Find out more about the history of sharks...

  • Shark Taxonomy

    Shark Taxonomy

    Taxonomy is a field of science that involves classifying and naming species. It's integral to wildlife conservation, providing the bedrock for our understanding of sharks.

  • Shark Anatomy

    Shark Anatomy

    Sharks have a range of adaptations that make them perfectly suited to their environment. It's no wonder they've gained a reputation for being some of the most impressive and formidable predators on the planet!

  • Shark Senses

    Shark Senses

    Many shark species have brains as complex as mammals, which enables them to process a wide range of senses. Sharks have the same 5 senses as we do plus a couple more...

  • Shark Reproduction

    Shark Reproduction

    Sharks invest a lot of energy into producing a few, well-developed young. There are 3 main methods of reproduction: oviparity (egg-laying), ovoviviparity and vivparity (live birth).

  • Tonic Immobility

    Tonic Immobility

    Tonic immobility is a reflex that causes a temporary state of inactivity in an animal. Similar to hypnosis. It occurs in a variety of different species, including many sharks and rays...

Most read

  • Canada Protects Endangered Mako Sharks with Groundbreaking Atlantic Ban

    Canada Protects Endangered Mako Sharks with Groundbreaking Atlantic Ban

    Canada announces groundbreaking move to protect Shortfin Mako in the Atlantic after a sustained campaign by the Shark League to follow the advice of ICCAT scientists.

  • 18 Shark & Ray Species Granted New Global Trade Controls at Wildlife Conference

    18 Shark & Ray Species Granted New Global Trade Controls at Wildlife Conference

    Makos, Wedgefishes, and Giant Guitarfishes listed under CITES with support from more than 100 countries.

  • ID Guide Introductory Pages

  • Male & Female Sharks

    Male & Female Sharks

    How do you tell the difference between a male and female shark? Click here to find out about physical and behavioural differences, as well as shark courtship...

  • Shark Taxonomy

    Shark Taxonomy

    Taxonomy is a field of science that involves classifying and naming species. It's integral to wildlife conservation, providing the bedrock for our understanding of sharks.

  • Great Eggcase Hunt

    Great Eggcase Hunt

    Find and record empty shark eggcases that have washed up on the beach. Eggcase hunting is great fun for all ages! Click here to find everything you need to get started.

  • Shark Anatomy

    Shark Anatomy

    Sharks have a range of adaptations that make them perfectly suited to their environment. It's no wonder they've gained a reputation for being some of the most impressive and formidable predators on the planet!

  • Tonic Immobility

    Tonic Immobility

    Tonic immobility is a reflex that causes a temporary state of inactivity in an animal. Similar to hypnosis. It occurs in a variety of different species, including many sharks and rays...

  • Landings of Endangered Rays in Tunisia Denounced

    Conservation groups are calling for answers and action in relation to the landing of Endangered Giant Devil Rays in Kelibia, Tunisia, in contravention of international agreements to protect the species.

  • News Digest - November

    News Digest - November

    Check out our selection of top shark stories for the month. Covering the latest news and discoveries from around the world...

Sign Up to our Newsletter

* indicates required
Email Format

We'll only use the information you provide on this form to email you monthly updates and marketing. Please tick the box below to confirm you're happy for us to email you.

You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us Or by contacting us. We treat your information with respect. Read our Privacy Policy to find out more. By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

Find us

Registered Office
The Shark Trust
4 Creykes Court
The Millfields
Plymouth
PL1 3JB, UK

+44 (0)1752 672008

Links

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Linkedin

© 2020 Shark Trust (unless otherwise attributed). Registered Charity No. 1064185. Registered Company No. 3396164